Device for suspending at least one body in cords, bands, or similar flexible carrying members

ABSTRACT

738,237. X-ray apparatus. DANSK RONTGEN-TEKNIK AKTIESELSKAB. Sept. 14, 1953 [Sept. 13, 1952], No. 25358/53. Class 98 (1). [Also in Group XI] A device, especially for medical work, for suspending a unit such as an X-ray tube or an operation lamp, comprises a number of flexible carrying members which only withstand tensile stresses and to which the unit is secured at a number of fixation points, and support means to which the other ends of the members are connected, adapted to alter the effective length of the carrying members, the carrying members being so arranged as to restrict motion of the centre of gravity of the unit to a surface having a downwardly-pointing peak at the position occupied by the centre of gravity of the unit when it is at rest. As shown in Fig. 2, a body 1, supporting, e.g., an X-ray tube, is suspended from points E, F, G, H in the ceiling by cords or wires 2, 3, 4, 5 and 2&lt;SP&gt;1&lt;/SP&gt;, 3&lt;SP&gt;1&lt;/SP&gt;, 4&lt;SP&gt;1&lt;/SP&gt;, 5&lt;SP&gt;1&lt;/SP&gt; fixed to the body at A, B, C, D. When the cords are wound up on drums or pulleys, the pairs of cords 2, 2&lt;SP&gt;1&lt;/SP&gt; &amp;c. are preferably equally inclined to the vertical, and ABCD and EFGH are squares, the side of the latter being equal to the diagonal of the former. The cords may be connected to drums 13 on a carriage 10, Fig. 3, which carriage runs by wheels 9 on tracks fixed to the ceiling, or to another carriage running on ceiling tracks at right-angles to the first-mentioned tracks. A motor 14 on the carriage drives by chain gear a worm spindle 16, which engages four worm wheels 15. Each wheel 15 is connected to a shaft 21 carrying a drum 13, on which two cords are wound. Arms 24, 25 connected to nuts engaging oppositely threaded portions of each spindle lay the cords evenly on the drums 13. Shafts 21 are slightly inclined to the horizontal, so as to be at right angles to the cords in an intermediate position of the apparatus. In another modification, Fig. 5, a plate 31 tiltably supporting an X-ray tube 30 is suspended by broad bands 32, 33, 35 and (not shown) 34, which are wound on drums 40 interconnected by bevel gears 42 and driven by an electric motor. The drums and driving gear are mounted in a carriage travelling on tracks by wheels 9 mounted on a spindle 53 also carrying a gearwheel 52 engageable by a pawl operated by a relay 54. The motor driving drums 40 also drives a threaded spindle along which moves a nut to operate contacts in the motor control circuit to prevent over-running or to bring the apparatus automatically to desired positions. A telescopic control handle 51 has push-buttons operating brakes. The suspended unit may be adapted for stereo-radiography.

J l 26, 19 0 UHL 2,946,549

J. B. K DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING AT LEAST ONE BODY IN CORDS, BANDS, OR SIMILAR FLEXIBLE CARRYING MEMBERS Filed Sept. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet l Jon/w BENEDIKT K5111.

INVENTOR BY M/MMWMPM ATTORNEYS Z 946 549 y 1950 J. B. KUHL DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING AT LEAST ONE BODY IN CORDS, BANDS, 0R SIMILAR FLEXIBLE CARRYING MEMBERS Filed Sept. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR BY /MMMMM ATTORNEYS 2 946 549 July 26, 1960 J. B. KUHL DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING AT LEAST ONE BODY IN CORDS, BANDS, OR

' SIMILAR FLEXIBLE CARRYING MEMBERS Filed Sept. 8, 1953 3 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR 36/ BY wmmm ATTORNEYS Unite DEVICE FOR SUSPENDING AT LEAST ONE BODY IN CORDS, BANDS, R SIMILAR FLEXIBLE CAR- RYING MEMBERS Johan Benedikt Kiihl, Abyhoj, Denmark, assignor to Dansk Rontgen-Teknik A/ S, Arhus, Denmark The invention relates to a device for suspending a unit for medical work by cords, bands, or similar flexible carrying members which can withstand only pulling stresses. Units such as X-ray tubes or operation lamps, the distance of which from their points of suspension must be variable, are particularly suited for use with the invention.

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction Which is suspended from the ceiling and permits vertical adjustments by means of flexible suspension means, yet nevertheless has a stability that is suflicient for taking photographs with an X -ray tube suspended thereby without the mobility of the construction due to the flexible carrying members having any detrimental influence on the quality of the exposures.

Further it is an object of this invention to provide a device in which the swinging performed by the unit when it is moved away from its position of rest and thereafter released is so irregular in nature due to sudden energy conversions between three different forms of energy, viz. potential energy, kinetic energy, and tension of the suspension members, that the energy imparted to the body States Patent H when it is moved away from its position of rest will quickly be dissipated, and the oscillation will be almost aperiodical.

Other objects and advantages will 'be apparentfrom the following specification taken together with .the accompanying drawing showing thestructural features 1ofthe preferred forms of the present invention.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 shows an embodiment of a device for suspending a medical unit such as an X-ray tube according to the invention having four band-shaped suspension means;

Fig. 2 is a plan view from above of the carriage of said device;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view connecting member for connecting the X-ray tube holder with the carrying bands;

Fig. 4 is a plan view, similar to Fig. 2, of a second embodiment of a device for suspending a medical unit such as an X-ray tube according to the invention having three band-shaped suspension means; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of the connecting member used in the embodiment of Fig. 4 for connecting the X-ray tube holder with the carrying bands.

Figs. 1, 2 and 3 show a form of the device in which an X-ray tube with holder 30 is tiltably mounted on the lower side of a connecting saucer 31 connected to four carrying bands 32, 33, 34 and 35 by means of bolts 36 passing through holes in the saucer and into four adjustable rods, one of which is shown in Fig. 3 and is denoted 37. Between the rod 37 and another rod 38 is clamped a bar 39 by means of screws passing through the rod 38 and into threaded holes in the rod 37 around which bar the lower end of the carrying band 35 is wound in, for example, two turns.

The four bands 32, 33, 34 and 35 are suspended by four identical drums 40 by being clamped between the bottom of a keyway in the surface of the drum and a ice corresponding key by means of screws. The rotatable .drums are mounted in bearings 41 on a carriage and are interconnected by means of identical pinions 42 fastened at the ends of the drum axles. Fixed to one'of the drums .is a sprocket wheel 43 driven by a chain from another sprocket wheel 44 fixed on the axle of an electric motor 45. Another train of sprocketwheels and a chain 46, 47, 48 operates a spindle 49 carryin'g 'a nut 50 making and breaking electrical contacts when it is moved along the spindle by rotation of said spindle. The preset contacts cause stopping of the motor when the end positions are reached. Other adjustable contacts may permit automatic adjustment of the carriage and the X-ray tube in predetermined positions. The contacts are included in circuit arrangements with relays for operating the motors. p f Protruding downwards from the lower sideof the carriagejis a telescopic control handle 51 with push button switches for controlling the different movements for example by'closing circuits energizing electric brakes for stopping immediately any movement going on. Fig. 1 shows on top of the carriage at the right a brake :gear wheel 52 fixedon the axle 53 interconnecting two'o'f the four 'wheels 9 carrying the carriage. This gear wheel is arrested by 'a pawl or the like operated by an electric relay 54 controlled by meet the" push button switches. The four wheels 9 are movable along rails 9b which are part of another carriage 90 having wheels 9a running on rails 9d secured for instance to the ceiling."

The electric cables between'the' handle and the carriage are led through and protected by the telescopic tubes. The-high tension cables to the X-ray'tube are not shown but they lead from a suitable place under theceiling and directly to the tube. In special cases they can be incorporated in the device. I Figs. 4 and 5 'show a form of device in which an X-ray tube holder (not shown) is tiltably mounted on thelower side of a connecting saucer 61'connected tov three carrying bands 62, 63 and 64 by means of bolts 66'passingj through holes in the saucerand into three adjustable rods 67. Between each of the rods, 67 and another rod 6.8

is clamped theend of onei'of the bands: The rods 67 Fixed to one of the drums is a sprocket wheel 73 driven by a chain 73a from another sprocket wheel 74 on the shaft 75a of an electric motor 75. Another sprocket wheel 76 is mounted on one of the other drum axles 70a and drives a further sprocket wheel 78 by means of a sprocket chain 77. Sprocket wheel 78 is mounted on a threaded spindle 79 on which is threaded a nut 80 which during its movement along the spindle caused by the rotation of the spindle makes and breaks electrical contacts at the end positions of the nut which correspond to the fully raised and fully lowered positions of the saucer 61. Other contacts may be provided intermediate the ends of the spindle which correspond to intermediate positions of the saucer 61 to which the bands may be lowered or raised.

The embodiment of Figs. 4 and 5 is not illustrated as being mounted on tracks and movable along those tracks as is the embodiment of Figs. 1-3. However, it will be obvious that this embodiment can be so mounted in a manner similar to the manner in which the embodiment of Figs. 1-3 is mounted.

The stability attained in practice proves surprisingly to be so great that it is possible to operate the X-ray tube in just the same way as is the case with a tube suspended in a rigid telescope system, i.e. without having to'wait until the tube ceases oscillating after having been moved. This means that it is possible to attain the same technical advantages with the arrangement according to the invention, but at a considerably lower cost.

I claim:

1. In a device for suspending a medical unit such as X-ray tubes and operation lamps, four suspending bands attached to the unit along four lines forming a quadrangle, said band attached at the upper end to four winding means the axes of which are parallel to the said four lines and form a quadrangle of an area greater than that of the first mentioned quadrangle.

2. In a device for suspending a medical unit such as X-ray tubes and operation'larnps, four suspending bands attached to the unit along four lines forming a quadrangle, said bands attached at the upper end to four winding means the axes of which are parallel to said four lines and a quadrangle of an area greater than that of the first mentioned quadrangle, said winding means having axles, bevel ,gear wheels coupling said axles.

3. In a device for suspending a medical unit such as X-ray tubes and operation lamps, four suspending bands attached to the unit along four lines forming a quadrangle, said bands attached at the upper end to four winding means the axes of which are parallel to said four lines and form a quadrangle of an area greater than that of the first mentioned quadrangle, said winding means having axles, bevel gear wheels coupling said axles, and a driving motor for driving one of the winding means.

4. In a device for suspending a medical unit, a carriage running on rails, a motor mounted on said carriage, four synchronized winding drums to which said motor is coupled mounted in said carriage, four broad suspending bands one attached to :each drum and all attached to the medical unit, the planes of the bands forming a pyramid, the apex of which points downwards.

5. In a device for suspending'a medical unit, a carriage running on rails, a motor mounted on said carriage, four synchronized winding drums towhich said motor is coupled mounted in said carriage, and a downwardly protruding telescopic handle with switches controlling the operation of said motor mounted in said carriage, four broad suspending bands one attached to each drum and all attached to the medical unit, the planes of the bands forming a pyramid the apex of which points downwards.

6. In a device for suspending a medical unit such as X-ray tubes and operation lamps, three suspending bands attached to the unit along three lines forming a triangle, three winding means to which said bands are attached at the upper end the axes of which are parallel to said lines and a triangle of an area greater than that of the first mentioned triangle, bevel gears coupling the axles of said winding means and a driving motor driving one of the winding means.

7. In a device for suspending a medical unit, a carriage running on rails, a motor mounted on said carriage, three synchronized winding drums mounted on said carriage to which said motor is coupled, three broad sus pending bands one attached to each drum and all.attached to the medical unit, the planes of the bands forming a pyramid, the apex of which points downwards.

8. In a device forsuspending a medical unit such as X-ray tubes and operation lamps, a plurality of suspending bands attached to the unit along lines forming a polygon, winding means to which said bands are attached at the upper end the axes of which are parallel to said lines and form a polygon of an area greater than that of the first mentioned polygon, bevel gears coupling the axles of said winding means and a driving motor driving one of the winding means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 633,902 Plein Sept. 26, 1899 717,727 Wellman Jan. 6, 1903 1,028,735 Keith June 4, 1912 2,163,174 Haase June 20, 1939 2,164,128 Medenwald June 27, 1939 2,190,093 Bossart Feb. 13,1940 2,351,727 Wehr June 20, 1944 2,358,487 Anjeskey Sept. 19, 1944 2,461,675 Berg Feb. 15, 1949 2,659,827 Scag et al Nov. 17, 1953 

